Dr. Gavin George is a co-founder and CEO of Puregene AG. The Swiss company has developed a technology stack that harnesses the power of genomics for trait discovery and predictive plant breeding, using massive datasets and machine learning to assemble tailored elite varieties, fit for industry. He was awarded a PhD in 2010 from Stellenbosch University before his 7 years at the ETH Zurich as a Postdoctoral researcher. He has authored 12 peer reviewed publications and contributed to 6 books.

In this episode, Dr. Gavin George, explores the potential of cannabis as a sustainable solution for climate change and global challenges. Puregene is using genomics and machine learning to develop tailored cannabis varieties for various industries.

🎙 Key topics covered:
🔹 Understanding the different cannabis terms: THC, CBD, marijuana, hemp (4:34)
🔹 Why cannabis could feed the world (6:09)
🔹 Sustainability potential of cannabis: High CO2 absorption (12:00)
🔹 Cannabis as an alternative to forests for carbon capture (22:20)
🔹 Cannabis vertical farming possibilities (27:47)
🔹 Breeding 3.0 vs CRISPR technology (13:08)
🔹 Expectations for future regulations in Switzerland (31:30)

💡 Gavin’s insights:
🌱 Cannabis is 60% more protein-efficient per acre than soy.
🌱 Cannabis can capture 10 times more CO2 than eucalyptus trees.
🌱 His company is at the forefront of genomics innovation in cannabis, using massive datasets to create optimized plant varieties.

For more on Puregene, visit:
Website

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